MADRID: In a stunning upset at the Madrid Open, two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz was ousted from the tournament on Wednesday by Andrey Rublev in their quarter-final showdown. Rublev, the world number eight hailing from Russia, secured a hard-fought victory with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback, handing Alcaraz his first loss on Spanish clay in 25 matches.
Rublev now advances to the semifinals, where he will await the winner between Taylor Fritz of the United States and Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. Despite initially controlling the match, Alcaraz, who had to skip previous clay court events due to a right arm injury, faltered against the relentless play of the 26-year-old Rublev, especially in the brisk conditions of the Manolo Santana Stadium with the roof closed.
Rublev’s persistence paid off with crucial breaks in the deciding set, ultimately sealing his triumph when the fatigued Alcaraz netted a return. Displaying an impressive array of shots, Rublev amassed 30 winners, capitalizing on Alcaraz’s evident exhaustion following his grueling three-set victory over Jan-Lennard Struff in the previous round.
